fragments of memory

USAGE SUMMARY

"fragments of memory" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe memories that are incomplete, either because they are too fleeting or because they have been distorted over time. For example, "He tried to recall the details of the event, but all he could find were fragments of memory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Both of them express their feelings indirectly, through images and fragments of memory that the reader is left to interpret.

The Guardian - Books

The half-­finished excerpts themselves — fragments of memory and anecdote — are like parables from which even the "late" Coetzee himself was unable to extract the meaning.

The New York Times - Books

But as fragments of memory and narrative flicker about the room, the disorientation it evokes seems to suggest one thing: memory is fallible.

The New York Times - Arts

Faced with the truth, she grasps at the fragments of memory as she brokenly enacts the simple glissades and low jetés of the first pas de deux.

The New York Times - Arts

The goal of a garbage collector is to automatically discover and reclaim fragments of memory that will no longer be used by the computation.

Cornell University

He uses it to recreate the fragments of memory from a past life – an apartment building, an elderly lady who endlessly cooks liver, a trio of cats on a roof, a boy.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Remembering involves stitching together fragments of memories, and errors inevitably creep in.

The Guardian

Images are impressionistic, haunting, like fragments of memories which the viewer must piece together.

Stanford University

For Mrs. Kozirovskaya, the monthly trips to the bank were the sentimental equivalent of visiting her mother's grave, a way to reconnect with fragments of memories.

The New York Times

"We will run through a full tape and see what gives," said the voice I was working to reconnect to fragments of memories.

The New Yorker

Each of them had stories about making that adjustment, and the decisions they made about what to keep — belongings, traditions, fragments of memories — and what to let go.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing creatively, use "fragments of memory" to convey a character's disorientation, trauma, or the unreliable nature of the past.

Common error

Avoid using "fragments of memory" when referring to a clear, comprehensive recollection. The phrase emphasizes incompleteness and partial recall.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fragments of memory" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It describes incomplete or disconnected pieces of recollection. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used in written English to depict memories that are not fully formed or are distorted.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

25%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fragments of memory" is a noun phrase widely used to describe incomplete or disconnected recollections. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, and academic contexts, the phrase conveys a sense of partial or distorted remembrance. It's crucial to differentiate it from complete memories and to use it appropriately to indicate incompleteness. Alternatives like "shards of memory" or "snippets of memory" offer subtle variations in meaning, further enriching expressive potential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shards of memory

Suggests broken, sharp pieces of memory, emphasizing their damaged nature.

snippets of memory

Suggests brief, disconnected pieces of memory, highlighting their brevity.

smithereens of memory

Emphasizes the extreme fragmentation and disintegration of a memory.

components of memory

Emphasizes the individual pieces that make up a memory, rather than its incompleteness.

vague recollections

Underscores the lack of clarity and precision in remembered details.

fractions of memory

Highlights the quantitative aspect of a memory being only partially retained.

fleeting memories

Highlights the transient and ephemeral quality of certain recollections.

strands of memory

Evokes the image of memories as interconnected threads, some of which are missing.

chunks of memory

Implies larger, more defined portions of memory, though still incomplete.

parts of memory

A general term for portions of memory, without necessarily implying incompleteness or distortion.

FAQs

How can I use "fragments of memory" in a sentence?

You can use "fragments of memory" to describe incomplete or disconnected recollections, such as, "The detective pieced together "fragments of memory" to solve the case."

What phrases are similar to "fragments of memory"?

Similar phrases include "shards of memory", "snippets of memory", or "fleeting memories", each emphasizing different aspects of incomplete or transient recollection.

Is it correct to say "fragment of memory" instead of "fragments of memory"?

Yes, both are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Fragment of memory" refers to a single, isolated piece of a memory, while "fragments of memory" refers to multiple, disconnected pieces.

What does "fragments of memory" suggest about the experience being described?

The term suggests that the experience being described is not fully or clearly remembered, implying a sense of incompleteness, distortion, or the passage of time.